Trying to get a 250EX System...

[Brian Ski]

I am not sure where you have tried... But if you go into a local credit union and see if your mother can co sign a loan. If she does not have bad credit (bad credit is much different than no credit) and a reasonable income you should have a good chance at a fair loan. Banks go by numbers, credit unions are much better. They usually can look at things at make a judgement call. I am not a big fan of banks... Their rates are a lot higher and they treat you like a number. Just my 2 cts....

[blasphemy000]

Yes. The MIG is a gas welder, but it's only 90A so there isn't a whole lot I can weld with it. It did work well to reattach the wheels to that mower deck I did two weeks ago though. The TIG got moved to my brother's in WV, so I don't have it here anymore. And it was limited to very thin metal as well. The alternator was a 90A unit, but the max output I measured with a clamp-on meter was about 75-80A. I have no ability to do any stick welding at the moment, and there is a lot of work to be done with stick, there are a lot of farmers in the area that are in need of on-site, stick welding, repairs(I have a 10,000W generator). And a lot of the other work that I have been asked about is aluminum work, and precision steel work that just requires a TIG welder. There are other welding shops in the area that do many different kinds of work, but most of them won't do aluminum, and 1/2 of them won't take on small individual jobs. That is the niche I'm trying to fill. Doing aluminum work, small jobs for individuals, precision work, and some mobile repairs. There is plenty of work in those areas for me to do if I can get the machine. With the equipment I got right now, I'm very limited as to the types of repairs I am able to do because I don't want to do any shoddy work because I know that my small MIG is notorious for producing cold welds if the material is too thick. I also don't want to take on a job that I _think_ my machine can handle, then find out half-way through the job that I need to weld something that is too thick for my machine, then end up having to tell my customer that I was wrong and I can't finish the job because my equipment isn't up to the task. I don't want to open the doors to my shop when I'm not really prepared to do the type of work that is being asked of me to do.

Also, thanks for the heads-up about the insurance thing. I'll be absolutely sure to look into getting some type of insurance so I'm able to cover my ###. I'm still not going to be taking on "high-risk" jobs even if I do have insurance. I know that will limit some jobs I can take, but sometimes you just have to know when to tell somebody, "No."

[fdcmiami]

get a job, quit bothering your family and report back in a year.

you don't have to worry about high risk jobs, no one is going to give you any anyway. not if they are capable of walking and talking.

[DaveO]

This would be a good time to point out that you will likely get all kinds of advice, ideas, suggestions, whatever, particularly in an open forum. *You* and *you alone* are the best judge of the advice, and you need to apply filters and judgement to see if the advice fits your situation, and if it's reasonable and workable for you.

[Rambozo]

It sounds like you have some work for what you have, and since you have a generator that opens up a lot more options. Field work is something that is a great fit for a small business. For the price of a lease payment or two, you could own a PowerArc unit to give you stick function. They run great off generators, since inverters need less power than transformer machines. You might notice that Sean refers to his PowerArc as the real "Money Maker" for his business. He also runs a generator and does field work. There is always a market to fix what has broken. The PowerArc can even do some DC TIG for some of the precision steel jobs you mention. You could get to work and see if there really is a market for your services. Then later add aluminum once you're up and rolling. Then when you have a profitable business, places like credit unions will be more interested in talking to you, too. Remember, then is a lot more than just the price of the machine, too. The extra odds & ends you need to finish can be almost as much as the machine. Things like the cooler, gas cylinders, filler rod, long cables, torch parts. It all adds up. One more thing, is that since you have oxy-fuel, you can apply some pre-heat before you MIG. That will give your little machine a boost in the material it can handle. For mobile work it's all about service. Show up on time, and fix the problem and people will call you back.

[blasphemy000]

get a job, quit bothering your family and report back in a year.

you don't have to worry about high risk jobs, no one is going to give you any anyway. not if they are capable of walking and talking.

If that was an option I'd be doing it. I require DAILY medical care, every morning. I'm up around 5:30AM and don't usually get back home until around 10AM. No one in my area wants to hire somebody if they can't be there when work starts at 7-8AM, trust me, I've tried. And another thing, you don't know my family, so don't worry about them helping me, the ones that are helping me are doing it purely by choice. If it wasn't for my family helping me with things over the last year, there's a 99% chance I'd literally be dead, a few times over due to health problems. My family does whatever they can to help and support other family members when they need it and what my family does is our business, if you don't like it, then just ignore it, it's pretty simple really.

[zoama]

If that was an option I'd be doing it. I require DAILY medical care, every morning. I'm up around 5:30AM and don't usually get back home until around 10AM. No one in my area wants to hire somebody if they can't be there when work starts at 7-8AM, trust me, I've tried. And another thing, you don't know my family, so don't worry about them helping me, the ones that are helping me are doing it purely by choice. If it wasn't for my family helping me with things over the last year, there's a 99% chance I'd literally be dead, a few times over due to health problems. My family does whatever they can to help and support other family members when they need it and what my family does is our business, if you don't like it, then just ignore it, it's pretty simple really.

He's straight forward like that with everyone so don't feel singled out. What's your medical condition ?

[fdcmiami]

Unfortunately I spent the last 6 years ruining my life, burning bridges, and screwing over almost everyone I ever knew, so trying to find somebody to believe that I've turned things around over the last 2-1/2 months is very hard to do, and out of the people that stuck around and know that I've went straight, their credit isn't good enough for them to be able to help. I don't know, I might just have to put this whole self-employment thing on the back burner for a while.

guy i have what you'd call serious street cred and you are working this board just like you probably worked a lot of people while you were busy burning bridges. if you're that sick then work is probably not an option; you should be at the social security office applying for bennies like a lot of other's in you shoes.

[CGCINC]

Unfortunately I spent the last 6 years ruining my life, burning bridges, and screwing over almost everyone I ever knew, so trying to find somebody to believe that I've turned things around over the last 2-1/2 months is very hard to do, and out of the people that stuck around and know that I've went straight, their credit isn't good enough for them to be able to help. I don't know, I might just have to put this whole self-employment thing on the back burner for a while.

guy i have what you'd call serious street cred and you are working this board just like you probably worked a lot of people while you were busy burning bridges. if you're that sick then work is probably not an option; you should be at the social security office applying for bennies like a lot of other's in you shoes.

lol... Damn, and my wife calls Me harsh!

It has taken me a few years to get good equipment, I started out with a Licoln "buzz box" AC225.
You really need to work the jobs you can do and save up.... I try not to do credit at all because you never know when the bottom will fall out!!
If you watch Craigslist, you can buy decent welders for a good price.....wait till they are on there for a few weeks and then low ball them, you never know!?!?

My wife works evenings, 5pm-5am. There are jobs that Don't start at 7-8am..... just sayin

[everlastsupport]

Well he is right far as if the money is not there. You will have to find another angle. Also, some jobs will not be as profitable as others. So make sure you quote the job out right or a little high (you can always go down on price).

So what is the illness you have?

[blasphemy000]

Unfortunately I spent the last 6 years ruining my life, burning bridges, and screwing over almost everyone I ever knew, so trying to find somebody to believe that I've turned things around over the last 2-1/2 months is very hard to do, and out of the people that stuck around and know that I've went straight, their credit isn't good enough for them to be able to help. I don't know, I might just have to put this whole self-employment thing on the back burner for a while.

guy i have what you'd call serious street cred and you are working this board just like you probably worked a lot of people while you were busy burning bridges. if you're that sick then work is probably not an option; you should be at the social security office applying for bennies like a lot of other's in you shoes.

I screwed up my life do to severe untreated depression. I spent six years held up in my house for the most part, ignoring everyone I knew, and flat our refusing to get help. I burnt bridges by refusing to let anybody help me. I would lie to them and tell them that I would accept their help, then when the time came to actually do the deed and get the help I needed, I would bail. So there were a lot of people that tried to help me(a lot of them even paid money to try and get me the help I needed) that I screwed over by pretending to accept their help then bailing on them at the last minute. I was finally forced to see a psychiatrist by my wife when I became suicidal. I was given medications for my depression and I'm doing much much better right now, I want to live, I want to be a productive member of society, I'm trying to better my life. I actually have a functioning relationship with my wife and my son, along with other members of my family. I can actually say I'm happy. Now, the reason I fell into a deep depression to begin with was due to a brush with death due to my liver almost giving out. I contracted Hep C from getting a tattoo from a less-than-reputable tattoo artist. I didn't know I had it until I almost died. After they gave me Interferon along with some other meds and got my liver function back to almost normal I fell into the deep depression for years all while refusing to get help because I let my pride get in the way of me getting help. I admit, all of this was caused by stupid decisions on my part, and all of this was completely preventable, but I can't change the past, I can only try to make a better future for myself and my family. As for the daily doctor visits...Severe depression also caused me to get addicted to the pain killers I was on while I was in the hospital, I see a doctor every day to get a tiny dose of methadone to treat my addiction. I'm currently being tapered off of the methadone and I've only got a few more months of treatment before I'm done and back on my own. I have over 9 months clean from the pain killers, and I've got around 2-1/2 months free from depression. I've made major life changes since I made the choice to get clean, but nothing really seemed to click until I got treatment for the depression. I'm not the same person that I was while I was suffering from depression, I feel like I'm back to normal again and I'm just trying to rebuild my life, but it's tough when you're starting from LESS THAN nothing.

Now, as far as the social security thing, I currently receive medical insurance to cover my medical bills, I receive food stamps(which I use to buy all the food here at my mother's house in exchange for her giving me a place to live), I get free transportation to and from all of my doctor's appointments(this is funded by the county that I live in), and I also receive a small amount of cash from the state which I give to my mom for her to use for things here at the house. I have applied for "SSI-For Persons with Disabilities"(while I was in the depths of my depression) but I was denied the first time around and my appeal hearing isn't for quite some time yet. Now, since I've gotten treatment for my depression I am fully capable of working so long as I keep taking my medications, but I would be less off working a minimum wage job than I am right now. I would much rather be working a job than leeching off of the taxpayers like I am right now. I know there are people out there that are WAY more deserving of these benefits than I am. If I'm working for myself, I will be able to keep the medical insurance(for a fee based on my income) and the most important part is that I will also be able to keep my medical transportation, not for free, but at a severely discounted price based on my income. I'll lose the cash assistance and the food stamps, but the main issue is keeping the insurance and the medical transportation.

The last thing is, I don't see how you think that I am "working over" people on this board when I'm not asking anybody on here for actual help. I'm only asking for some advice and some recommendations. I would never ask strangers for anything more than advice. The people on this board don't know me and I don't expect anything from them. I am very grateful for the advise and the words of encouragement that everyone has given me and I appreciate it to the fullest extent, but I would never ask anybody on this board for anything more than advice.

If you have a problem with me trying to start my own business and make some money for myself, then just ignore what I am trying to do. You are entitled to your opinion but you don't know me, you don't know my family, you don't know my friends, and you don't have a right to judge me. I know that all of my problems(health and mental) were completely preventable on my part but I was young, dumb, and stupid, and I made some really poor choices. I've been trying to turn things around for quite some time now and I'm slowly making progress on my life. I don't feel as though I should be punished for the rest of my life for the poor decisions I've made in the past as long as I make amends for the wrongs I've done, as long as I'm constantly, and HONESTLY trying to improve myself.

I'm sorry that I wrote a really long story here and I really don't expect anyone to read all of this, but I don't feel as though I should be judged by somebody that doesn't know a thing about me. If you don't like what I'm trying to do than just ignore me. I'm not judging you, I have nothing against you, I'm not mad, I just don't feel as though you're in a position to be judging me.

[blasphemy000]

As a reply to the topic of the actual thread. I have some side work I just got asked about today and I have agreed to take on. They're not welding jobs, they are mechanic jobs. One is redoing all the fuel and brake lines on a car(they're all rusted out). Another is rebuilding a small-block Chevy engine for a friend's 70s-era Camaro, and the last job is rebuilding the engine on a racing quad for a friend of mine that is a semi-pro racer. I was an auto mechanic(been working on cars since I was 10 years old) from the time I was 16 until I was 20 so these will be some nice jobs for me to make some money. I'll be saving the money and putting it towards the savings to buy the welding equipment I desire. Thank you everyone for the good advice you all have given me. I really appreciate all of your advice and recommendations.

[zoama]

I just don't feel as though you're in a position to be judging me.

I think it's great that your getting on your feet so don't take this the wrong way. As long as a person is taking tax payer assistance, they are subject to public opinion because the public is invested in them.
When I was younger and living off of very little, I worked a full time job that just payed my living expenses. After work I offered to cut peoples grass or do yard work for whatever they wanted to pay. I figured even if they only gave two dollars, it's more than I had. Out of all the people I worked for, not one of them payed me less than the going rate.
I'm not trying to give you a hard time, I'm just saying there are many ways to make money... if it's honest work, do it, whatever it may be.
Good luck.

[blasphemy000]

I think it's great that your getting on your feet so don't take this the wrong way. As long as a person is taking tax payer assistance, they are subject to public opinion because the public is invested in them.
When I was younger and living off of very little, I worked a full time job that just payed my living expenses. After work I offered to cut peoples grass or do yard work for whatever they wanted to pay. I figured even if they only gave two dollars, it's more than I had. Out of all the people I worked for, not one of them payed me less than the going rate.
I'm not trying to give you a hard time, I'm just saying there are many ways to make money... if it's honest work, do it, whatever it may be.
Good luck.

Exactly. And I completely understand that. Like I said in my really long post, there are many many people out there that are more deserving of the benefits than what I am. If I was working I could easily go without the food-stamps and the little bit of cash they give me, but I CANNOT go without the medical coverage and the medical transportation. If I'm working a regular job I can keep the insurance for a fee but I can't keep my transportation. They figure that if I have transportation to/from work then I can find my own transportation to/from my medical appointments. If I'm working out of my home/garage(or anywhere within WALKING distance) I can keep my medical transportation for a fee based on my income. What you said about doing side jobs and any type of honest work, I completely agree with you. That is why I jumped at the opportunity to do these mechanic jobs that I mentioned. It won't be a whole hell of a lot of money, but it's honest money for honest work, and once the jobs are over and I've been paid, I will have more money saved than what I had before I did the jobs. I'm not giving up on my welding/self-employment dream, I'm just temporarily setting it aside until I am able to fund it more easily and hopefully on my own or with very little help. Like I said before...Everyone here has been great to me with their advice they have given and I am truly grateful for all of it. Once again, thank you all.

[performance]

Guys,

NO ONE and I repeat NO ONE is guaranteed good health, or knows what tomorrow may bring. The high and mighty, quick to judge attitude has got to stop. You might be paralyzed tomorrow due to some drunk (you?) pulling out in front of someone and you might get caught up in it. Anyone in retirement and collecting SS is by DEFINITION receiving public assistance. I am conservative as they come, but do know people who wouldn't probably BE if they didn't have some sort of help. If not the government, are you personally going to step in and lend a hand if it's truly needed? Are you so arrogant to think it can't or won't happen to you? ...Your insurance agent could be scamming you and taking your payments and not sending them in. Or you may be receiving your pension when some guy decides to cut them out to save the company. You may discover you have ALS tomorrow, or that you have pancreatic cancer. People are quick to judge, but slow to offer meaningful advice or even slower to help. And NO, because you receive government help doesn't make your life a complete open book in the general public. We are guaranteed our rights under the bill of rights and the constitution of this country. NOWHERE does it say a person surrenders their rights to privacy if they receive help from their government. Do you surrender your right to privacy because you travel down taxpayer funded highways? No. Do you surrender it because you have a tax payer supported garbage truck pick up your trash? No. This thread has DEGENERATED into an attack on a younger member and put him in a defensive posture. It ends now.

[fdcmiami]

have you been drinking? maybe you and junior would like to correspond privately and quit cluttering the board with your nonsense.

this never was a thread; this was about junior working you guys till someone caved an gave him something. are you that green?

[zoama]

Guys,

NO ONE and I repeat NO ONE is guaranteed good health, or knows what tomorrow may bring. The high and mighty, quick to judge attitude has got to stop. You might be paralyzed tomorrow due to some drunk (you?) pulling out in front of someone and you might get caught up in it. Anyone in retirement and collecting SS is by DEFINITION receiving public assistance. I am conservative as they come, but do know people who wouldn't probably BE if they didn't have some sort of help. If not the government, are you personally going to step in and lend a hand if it's truly needed? Are you so arrogant to think it can't or won't happen to you? ...Your insurance agent could be scamming you and taking your payments and not sending them in. Or you may be receiving your pension when some guy decides to cut them out to save the company. You may discover you have ALS tomorrow, or that you have pancreatic cancer. People are quick to judge, but slow to offer meaningful advice or even slower to help. And NO, because you receive government help doesn't make your life a complete open book in the general public. We are guaranteed our rights under the bill of rights and the constitution of this country. NOWHERE does it say a person surrenders their rights to privacy if they receive help from their government. Do you surrender your right to privacy because you travel down taxpayer funded highways? No. Do you surrender it because you have a tax payer supported garbage truck pick up your trash? No. This thread has DEGENERATED into an attack on a younger member and put him in a defensive posture. It ends now.

One or two post may have read negative but everyone interprets what they read differently.
I don't consider my post negative and I don't see how you arive at the thread decending into bashing.
Is it any better when your telling others what they think ?

[blasphemy000]

have you been drinking? maybe you and junior would like to correspond privately and quit cluttering the board with your nonsense.

this never was a thread; this was about junior working you guys till someone caved an gave him something. are you that green?

Nobody, and I can't stress this enough, NO-FREAKING-BODY on this forum has given me ANYTHING besides advise. I don't know where you get off thinking these board members are giving me stuff. I never asked anyone on this board for anything more than advice, and no one on this board has given me anything more than advice. This conversation is over, I've received enough advice/recommendations from the board members here to make me realize that I am better off saving my money a little at a time until I am able to purchase the equipment outright or with as little help as possible instead of putting myself in a mountain of debt(I did find a place to lend the money but the interest rate and the payments were outrageous and I was smart enough to tell them to keep their money). Like I said, if you don't like me, then just leave me alone and don't worry about me, instead of jumping in and judging me, because you've never been in my shoes so you have no right to pass judgement.

And I'm not an idiot when it comes to running a business. I owned and operated my own business(on the side) at the age of 17. I ran a shop(out of my mother's living room) that built custom-one-off computers and repaired normal computers, successfully until I was almost 20. The only reason my shop closed was because the prices of brand-name computers dropped so low to the point where I was unable to turn a profit on my custom systems anymore and still be competitive. The prices of new systems also dropped so low that instead of people wanting to get their current systems repaired it was just as easy to go purchase a completely new, brand-name, el-cheapo system from Wal*Mart.

Thanks to everyone that offered me advice.

[blasphemy000]

One or two post may have read negative but everyone interprets what they read differently.
I don't consider my post negative and I don't see how you arive at the thread decending into bashing.
Is it any better when your telling others what they think ?

I didn't consider your post negative, in fact I even said I agreed with you.

[performance]

In defense of another customer, it is. And since I am a comod over the forum and as a moderator to "moderate" that means I do have to hold a standard...which means I have to insert my opinion when things get muddy and take action to get the topic back on track. This thread has derailed from the Opening post and title.